Innovation Power – Global Vision Forum Highlights Design Leadership in the Greater Bay Area

The “Innovation Power – Global Vision” Forum convened creative leaders from across the Greater Bay Area to examine how international design innovation and cultural integration are reshaping the built environment. The dialogue underscored the region’s growing role as a testbed for new ideas in commercial, cultural, and public space design.

Speaking at the forum, OFT co‑founder CM Jao led a session on how the accelerating lifecycle of commercial spaces is transforming design practice. He highlighted the need for firms to develop strategies that align creative ambition with operational realities, ensuring projects remain adaptable, commercially viable, and relevant over time.

Jao also examined the global convergence of aesthetics under the influence of social media, stressing the importance of preserving authentic local narratives while crafting design languages that can communicate on an international stage. This dual focus on cultural depth and global applicability reflects the firm’s broader approach to practice.

The event, which also featured contributions from industry peers Eric Sze On Chan, Kay Tu, and Jay Leung, served as an important platform for cross‑disciplinary and cross‑border exchange. The organisers were thanked for creating a forum that advances critical discussion on the future of design in the Greater Bay Area and beyond.